Bottle refrigerating and vending machine



March 29, 193s. w. E. PORT 2,112,448

I BOTTLE REFRIGERATING AND VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1957 2 SheetSj-Sheel l vMarch 29, 1938. w. E. PORT BOTTLE REFRIGERATING AND VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. v17, 1937 75 9 no? l /03 Patented Mar. 29, 1938 BOTTLE REFRIGERATING lAND VENDING CHINE William E. Port, Richmond Heights, Mo., assignor to Coca. Cola Bottling Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1937, Serial No. 126,125

Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines, and with regard to certain more specific features, to automatic bottle refrigerating and Vending machines.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision oT a vending machine of the class described, which is adapted to handle bottled beverages and the like, for dispensing the same, which machine is equipped with mechanism providing that the machine will dispense a bottle only upon the presentation of a coin of predetermined denomination thereto; the provision of a vending machine of the class described in which the said mechanism is unusually /simple in construction and operation, and contains a minimum number of operating parts that are likely to get out of order; the provision, in a machine of the class described, of means whereby the machine' will receive a coin for a dispensing operation only when a bottle is available to bee-dispensed, and is in dispensing position; the provision, in a vending machine of the class described of means whereby Anot more than one bottle may be dispensed for any one coin presented; and the provision of a vending machine of the class described which is relatively simple and economical in construction and operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in-part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction', and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the'application of which lwill be indicated in the following claims.

machine tion of a delivery mechanism;

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 4,

illustrating successively advanced positions ofthe mechanism; i I

Fig.`4;`and,y

Fig. 8 is a, vertical section taken substantially along line l-l of Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters indicate corre- .In the accompanying drawings, in which is Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the mechanismof sponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.'

Referring now more particularly to Figures l, 2 and 3, numeral I indicates the casing or enclosure of the vending machine of the present invention. This casing or enclosure I is preferably of a hollow-wall type of construction, as indicated in Fig. 3, the hollow portions of the wall being filled with heat insulating material such as that indicated at numeral 3, at least in the upper regions of the casing; The casing I is of a generally rectangular, box-likey construction, with the exception of a sloping face 5 provided across the front upper edge thereof. The sloping face 5 receives and mounts a double window 1,'

made of glass or some similar transparent material, so that the interior of the casing may be seen.

Internally, the casing I is divided into a relatively large upper compartment 9 and a smaller lower compartment II. A partition I3, which, like the walls of the casing, is preferably of vinsulated construction, separates the compartments 9 and II. vIt is not important that the walls of the compartment II be of the heat insulating construction, because all refrigerating is donein the upper compartment 9.

Access to the upper compartment 9 is provided by means of a horizontally hinged door I5 in the upper region of the back of the casing. The door I5 is provided with a suitable handle and locking mechanism I'I whereby a supplier of the bottles to be vended can obtain access to the interior of said compartment 9. Ordinarily, vthe back.of the compartment II is left open, as indicated at numeral I6. Compartment II is usually provided with an empty bottle-receiving tray or box I1, that is inserted through the openying I6. A chute I9 extends through the front of the -case I and is positioned to receive empt bottles and deliver them into the box Il. f

Inthe bottom of the compartment 9, and rest- Aing upon the partition I3, there is preferably pro- Ivided a grill or like device 2 I, which provides regulax-'spaced openings or receptacles 23 for receiving ythe rbottlesvto be dispensed; indicated -generally .by lnumeral 25.Y Generally speaking, bottles 25 Aare delivered froml the compartment 9 through a lchute 2l, which may be opened for `the delivery ,of a bottle only upon the presentation of a coin :of suitable denomination'to a coin control device indicated generally by .numeral 29. The lmanner in whichthe coin control device 29 and the chute 21 are constructed and operate 1s in- 1 dicated in greater detail hereinafter, and forms vention.

In order to provide that the purchaser may move a bottle from one of the receptacles 23 into the inside top of chute 21, a manipulating device indicated generally by numeral 3| is provided. The manipulating device 3| comprises a ball 33 that is received in a universally swivelling joint 35 in the top of casing I. Slidably extending through the center of the ball 33 is a handle or arm 31, the lower end of which carries a clamp comprising a pair of spring-pressed fingers 39. A purchaser need only stand outside of the box I and manipulate the outer end of the handle 31 so as to bring the clamp 39 around the neck of a bottle 25. The purchaser can observe his movements through the window 1. He then pulls the handle 31 upwardly through the ball 33, swivels the ball through whatever angle is necessary, and deposits the bottle in the top of the chute 21. It is then a simple matter for him to disengage the clamps 39 from the neck of the bottle, and release the handle 31 for a subsequent dispensing operation.

If the purchaser then places his coin in the coin control device 29, and manipulates it in a manner hereinafter to be described, the bottle he has selected will be released and slide outwardly through the chute 21 to the portion thereof outside the casing I, where the bottle is free to be lifted by the purchaser. A convenient accessory on the outside of the casing I comprises a bottle cap remover 4|, which includes a catch-all 43 for receiving the bottle caps removed.

In ordinary operation, after all of the compartments 23, or any desired number thereof, are lled with bottles 25, crushed ice or iced water or some similar refrigerating medium is filled into the compartment 9 until it establishes a liquid level such as that indicated at numeral 45 in Fig. 3. The bottles 25 are thus all chilled, or refrigerated, during the time that they await dispensing.

The constructions of the chute 21 and coin control device 29, and the manner of their cooperation, are indicated in Figures 4 through 8, inclusive, to which attention is now directed. The chute 21 comprises a tubular section 41, which is of sufficient internal diameter to freely pass a bottle 25. The tube 21 is mounted in the walls of the casing in a sloping manner, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that its inner end is sumciently higher than its outer end, that the force of gravity always tends to make a bottle slide down the chute to the outer end thereof. At its upper end, the tubular portion 41 turns slightly upwardly, as indicated at numeral 49, and a portion of the tube, indicated at numeral 5|, is removed, in order to provide room for "certain operating mechanisms to be described. The upper end of the section 49 is normally open, so that it may receive the bottom of a bottle Ipresented to the chute. y

Closing the lower end of the tube 41, at the point that it emerges through the walls 3 of casing I, is a closure 53 that is freely pivoted on a pin 55 mounted in ears 51 extending upwardly from the tube 41. Gravity normally holds the closure 53 shut, but said closure is free to rotate away from the end of tube 41 whenever a bottle comes down the chute. Also attached to the lower end of the tube 41 is a cradle or bottle receiving device indicated generally by numeral 59. The lower end 6| of this cradle 59 is closed, in order to check the advance of a bottle being one of the principal objects of the present indelivered. Since the dispensed bottles are ordinarily wet from the refrigerating medium in the compartment 9, a pipe or tube 63 is preferably connected to the lower end of the basket 59 and brought back into the casing I at such a point that it delivers the collected drippings of ice wa- A ter to an unobjectionable location (see Fig. 1).

Extending upwardly from the upper edge of the tube 41 are a pair of ears 65 which serve to mount a pin 61, the axis of which is at right angles to the axis of the tube 41. Swinging on the pin 61 is a trip member or gate 69, which comprises a flat camming portion 1| that extends through a slot 13 (see also Figures 5 and 6) into the interior of tube 41, and a stop member proper indicated by numeral 15 at its opposite end. At a lower point on the tube 41, but still within casing I, a pair of studs 11 mounted on diametrically opposite points of the outside of tube 41 serve to pivotally mount the opposite sides of a U-shaped yoke 19. Numeral 8| indicates a finger that projects downwardly from the central portion of the yoke 19, through the slot 13, and into the interior of the tube 41. Extending upwardly from the same portion of the yoke are a pair of ears 85, which serve to mount a pin 81 for manipulative purposes hereinafter to be described.

Gravity normally holds the gate member 69 so that the camming portion 1| thereof extends across a substantial portion of the passage through tubes 41. Gravity likewise normally holds the finger 8| of member 19 in position across the passage through tube 41. Both the members 1| and 8| extend sufficiently far into the tube 41 that it is impossible for a bottle 25 to slide down the tube 41 without pushing both members 1| and 8| aside.

The coin controlled device 29 will readily be recognized, from Figures 4, 5 and 6, as being, basically, of the slide type. It comprises a track 89 in which slides a bar 9|, the bar 9| being provided with a handle 93 at its outer end. A springpressed finger 95 is mounted on ears 91 raised from the track 89. The slide 93 contains a hole of suitable diameter to receive the predetermined denomination of coin. The coin is placed in the hole flat-wise, in a manner such that it forms a substantial continuation of the slide 9|. If a coin is present in the slide 9| when the handle 93 is pushed inwardly, so as to make the slide 9| slide inwardly in the track 89, the finger 95 slides freely over the surface of the coin and movement of the slide member 93 is not impeded. However, if no coin is present in the hole, as soon as the hole reaches the finger 95, the finger 95 falls therein, and prevents further sliding movement of the slide 9| in the track 89.

Numeral 99 indicates an extension that is secured to the rear end of the slide 9| The extension 99 has a downwardly turned end |9|, to which is hooked one end of a tension spring |99. The other end of the tension spring |99 is fastened to the wall 3 (see Fig. '1) the tension spring |93 thus serving to tend to return the slide 9| to its outwardly extended position after each manipulation of the device.-

Secured to the underside of the slide 9| is a cam plate indicated generally by numeral |95. At its rearmost edge, the cam plate |95 has a notch |91, which receives the portion 15 o1' swingable gate 59. An intermediate portion of the cam plate |95 is provided with a substantially horizontal notch |99, while the forward portion of the cam plate |95 is provided with a substantially vertical notch I||. The bottom edge |I3 of the cam plate |05 ahead of the notch I I is higher than the bottom edge ||5 of said plate |05 ahead of the notch I Il, for reasons hereinafter to be made clear.

A sheet metal cover ||1 (see Figures 4 and 8) v normally incloses all moving parts' of the mechanism inside the box, leaving, however, a suilicient opening overthe upper end of tube section 49 to receive a bottle, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. 'I'he cover ||1 is preferably mounted on angle brackets or like members ||9 secured to the inside wall of the casing. y

' The operation of the coin controlled device is such that it normally delivers, or drops the coin whichhas been fed to it, in a regionintermediate between the two walls of the casing, such region being indicated in Fig. 4 by numeral |2|. The region |2| is accordingly left hollow in the casing, and a chute |23 (see also Fig. 8) is provided between the walls leading from said region |2| to the opening |25 of a coin-receiving -box |21.

Locking means is provided von the handle I1, in

order that the .door may be opened and accessl t'o the box |21 may be had only by a duly author- `ized representative provided with a key.

The operation of the coin-controlled delivery chute mechanism as thus described is as follows:

Figure 4 indicates the normal, or non-operating position of all of the elements. It will be seen that the portion 15 of gate element 69 interlocks with the notch |01 in the rear end'of cam plate |05 attached to coin slide 9|. 'I'his is true only so long as no bottle is present in the upper end ofthe chute 21. If a purchaser now places a coin in the slide 9|, in an attempt to manipulate the same, he will nd that the coin control mechanism 29 will not slide -backwardly, or receive his coin, because of this engagement of the member 15- with the notch |01. This action prevents the device from receiving a coin without at the same time deliveringa bottle in exchange therefore, in the manner hereinafter to bedescribed. In this manner, receiving of coins by the device after the supply of refrigerated bottles has been ex hausted, is prevented.

It, however, the purchaser, by manipulating the handle 31 in the manner described, has placed a bottle 25 in the upper end of the chute 21, then this bottle will, under the force of gravity, slide down the tubular portion 41 until its bottom abuts the finger 8|. In so doing, it will push aside the cam portion 1| of gate element 69, and the various elements will then assume the position indicated in Fig. 5. V

By reference to Fig. 5. it will be seen that the bottle 25 has pushed aside'the camming portion 1| of element 69, and in so doing has rotated said element 69 on the pin 61 to withdraw the portion 15 from engagement with the notch |01. Gravity, alone, however, will not push aside the finger 8|, because the pin 81 on projecting ears `85 engages the lower edge H9 of cam plate |05. However, if the purchaser now places his coin in the slide 9|, and provided the coin is of a suitable denomination, the slide 9| can be pushed rearwardly in the track '89, because the portion 15 no longer engages the obstructing notch |01. As the slide 9| progresses rearwardly, it carries withit the camming plate |05, and soon the pin-81 comes into juxtaposition with notch and is forced to slide upwardlyin said notchA thus rotating the yoke 19 on studs 11 and pulling the finger 8| out of the i -Way of the bottle 25. The bottle 25 is now free to is as follows:

aside the cover 53 and presenting itself to the purchaser in the cradle or basket 59. Fig. 6 indicates the position of the elements at this stage of operation. It will now be seen that the purpose of the notch |09 in the cam plate |05 is to receive or pass the pin 61, s6 that said pin does not oier an obstruction to the rearward movement of the slide 9|.

By reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that a second bottle cannot now be delivered to the open inner end of the chute 21 for delivery, because the extension 99 mounted on the slide 9| forms a gate or bar across the opening of receiving end to surreptitiously position a second bottle in the chute for delivery merely upon the presentation of one coin. On the contrary, it is necessary that the slide 9| be released and permitted to return to its Fig. 4, or extended position, before another bottle can be placed in the chute 21. And then, to secure delivery of the said second bottle, it is necessary to go through the manipulation of placing a second coin in the slide 9|, and to repeat all of the operations hereinbefore described. 'I'he dimensioning of the various parts of the apparatus is' such that the finger, or gate 8| cannot be withdrawn from position until the said extended portion 99 of the slide 9| is in location to prevent the insertion of a second bottle into the chute.

It will accordingly be seen that the broad function of the various devices heretofore described 'I'he pivoted gate member 69 is for the purpose of preventing 4the operation of the coin control mechanism 29 until a bottle is in position for delivery. If no bottle is available 'in the cooling chamber 9 of the device, obviously, then, the device will not receive any money. 'I'he gate 8| prevents the delivery of a bottle in the chute until the coin of the proper denomination has been placed in the coin control mechanism 29, and said mechanism has been suitably actuated.. The extending portion 99 of the slide 9| constitutes a second gate, which, by the very operation of releasing the rst gate 8|, locks the chute 21 so that a second bottle cannot be delivered until the entire sequence of operation has been repeated. e

'I'he chute 21 is thus, in eifect, equipped with two gates, comprising the gate `8| and the extension 99. At no time during the operation of the device' are both-of these gates open at the same time. Normally, the gate 8| is closed andofthe device is impossible until a bottle has been l positioned to be delivered, because of the 'action of the device 69 in the manner heretofore described.

. It will be obvious that upon suitable changes of size and proportion andl shape of the lvarious parts, the dispensing mechanism herein described may be adapted-for the vending of articles other` than bottles.

In view of the above, it will be seen that theL several'objects. of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

' 70 As many changes could be made in carrying shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing device, a tubular chute, means supporting said chute in a sloping manner, said chute having a receiving mouth at the upper end thereof and a delivery mouth at the lower end thereof, means pivoted on said chute and having a projection extending through a slot in said chute, said projection, in its normal position, constituting an obstruction to the passage of articles through said chute, manually actuatable sliding means mounted above said chute, said sliding means having a retracted "position and an extended position, means extending from said sliding means which, when said sliding means is in its extended position, extends across the receiving mouth of said chute and constitutes an obstruction preventing the insertion of articles into said chute, said sliding means also having means thereon cooperating with said pivoted means, whereby when said sliding means moves from its retracted position to its extended position, it withdraws said projection from obstructing position within said chute, said sliding means, in its retracted position, holding said projection in obstructing position across said chute.

2. In a dispensing device, a tubular chute, means supporting said chute in a sloping manner, said chute having a receiving mouth at the upper end thereof and a delivery mouth at the lower end thereof, means pivoted on said chute and having a projection extending through a slot in said chute, said projection, in its normal position, constituting an obstruction to the passage of articles through said chute, manually ac- 'tuatable sliding means mounted above said chute, said sliding means having a retracted position and an extended position, means extending from said sliding means which, when said sliding means is in its extended position, extends lacross the receiving mouth of said chute and constitutes an obstruction preventing the insertion of articles into said chute, said sliding means also having means thereon cooperating with said pivoted means, whereby when said sliding means moves from its retracted position to its extended position, it withdraws said projection from obstructing position within said chute, the said lastnamed means comprising a vertical camming plate extending from the said sliding means and adapted to engage a projection extending upwardly from said pivoted means, said sliding means, in its retracted position, holding said rst-named projection in obstructing position acrosssaid chute.

3. In a dispensing device, a tubular chute, means supporting said chutein a sloping manner, said chute having a receiving mouth at' the upper end thereof and a delivery mouth at the lower end thereof, means pivoted on said chute and having a projection extending through a slot in said chute, said projection,in its normal position, constituting an obstruction to the passage y of articles through said chute, manually actuatable sliding means mounted above said chute, said sliding means having a retracted position and an extended position, a portion of said sliding means, when in ,its extended position, extending across thereceiving mouth of said chute and constituting an obstruction preventing the insertion of articles into said chute, said sliding means. also having means thereon cooperating with said pivoted means, whereby when said slid` ing means moves from its retracted position to its extended position, it withdraws said projection from obstructing position within said chute, and a locking device pivotally mounted on said chute and having one portion adapted to engage saidl sliding means and another portion adapted to project into said chute, said locking device being adapted to be rotated to a position such that it does not obstruct the movement of said slide, when an article is in said chute in position to be delivered, said sliding means, in its retracted position, holding said projection in obstructing position across said chute.

4. In a dispensing device, a tubular chute, means supporting said chute in a sloping manner, said chute having a receiving mouth at the upper end thereof and a delivery mouth at the lower end thereof, means pivoted on said chute and having a projection extending through a slot in said chute, said projection, in its normal position, constituting an obstruction to the passage of articles through said chute, manually actuatable sliding means mounted above said chute, said sliding means having a retracted position and an extended position, a: portion of said sliding means, when in its,extended position extending across the receiving mouth of said chute and constituting an obstruction preventing the insertion of articles into said chute, said. sliding means also having means thereon cooperating with said pivoted means, whereby when said sliding means moves from its retracted position to its extended position, it withdraws said projection from obstructing position within said chute, and a locking device pivotally mounted on said chute and having one portion adapted to engage said sliding means and another portion adapted to project into said chute, said locking device being adapted to be rotated to a position such that it does not obstruct the movement of said slide, when an article is in said chute in position to be delivered, but, under the force of gravity, to assume a position obstructing movement of said sliding means when no article is in the chute in position for delivery, and sliding means, in its retracted position, holding said projection in obstructing position across said chute. y

5. In a dispensing device, a tubular chute, means supporting said chute in a sloping manner, said chute having a receiving mouth at the upper end thereof and a delivery mouth at the lower end thereof, means pivoted on said chute and having a projection extending through a slot in said chute, said projection, in its normal position, constituting an obstruction to the passage of articles through said chute, manually actuatable sliding means mounted above said chute, said sliding means having a normal retracted position and an extended position, means extendingfrom said sliding means which, when said sliding means in its extended position, extends across the receiving mouth of said chute and constitutes an obstruction -preventing the insertion of articles into said chute, said sliding means also having means thereon cooperating with said 'pivoted means, whereby when said sliding means moves from its'retracted position to its extended position, it withdraws said projection from obstructing position within said chute, said chute also being provided with a non-obstructing closure at its lower, delivery end, said sliding means, in its retracted position, holding said projection in obstructing position across said chute;

WILLIAM E. PORT. 

